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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where should the writer find his or her words?
(a) From modern euphanisms that people can relate to.
(b) From within the subconscious to the writing consciousness
(c) From a dictionary.
(d) From a thesaraus.

2. What is an example of a dead language?
(a) Latin is dead because nobody speaks it anymore.
(b) Chinese because it never changes.
(c) Spanish because its roots are disintegrating.
(d) Italian because there is only one country that speaks it.

3. What are some limitations of perfect grammar?
(a) Good grammer makes for boring writing.
(b) Lack of expressionism when grammar is perfect.
(c) Hindering points, establishing author moods, and painting word pictures.
(d) Some writers don't have perfect grammar and therefore cannot get published.

4. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?
(a) It causes writer's to think about the reader.
(b) It creates a teacher student relationship.
(c) It makes it easier for people to relate to.
(d) It brings out the natural voice.

5. How much research does Zinsser recommend for an article?
(a) He recommends using at least three full length books for a one page article.
(b) He recommends finding much more information than is needed for the article.
(c) He recommends finding the bare minimum and bulking an article up with adjectives.
(d) He recommends finding just enough to make a word count.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is it that the bad writers mentioned above do that makes their writing terrible?

2. Why doesn't Zissner provide examples of these writers he admires?

3. What has literature transformed into?

4. Chapter 3 is about __________.

5. Can good writing be taught?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do gimmicks usually work in good writing?

2. What are Zinsser's thoughts on the writing profession?

3. What does the surgeon in Chapter 1 think about writing?

4. When is it acceptable for a new word to enter the English languages American Heritage Dictionary? Can you give an example?

5. Why do writers have a hard time starting at the "true beginning?"

6. Why are writers fearful to insert their own opinions, ideas, and judgments in their own writing?

7. Why are interviews so important to an article?

8. Why is it important for writers to maintain unity throughout a piece? Three things are vitally important.

9. Why does Zinsser advise against using exclamation points for astonishment?

10. What do all good writers do when it comes to improving?

(see the answer keys)

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